H5 bird flu triggers mass seabird die-offs across South Australia and nearby islands
South Australia declares a significant escalation of H5 avian influenza after three mass mortality events killing more than 1,000 greater crested terns on Troubridge and Pages Islands; a suspected H5 case in a little penguin on Kangaroo Island and 28 dead little penguins on King Island are under investigation, with testing underway. Detections are spreading to additional sites in SA, while NSW and Tasmania report further cases. No poultry or livestock infections have been detected. Aerial surveillance is ongoing and authorities are considering targeted vaccination for captive native species as a conservation measure, with broader vaccination of wild birds deemed impractical.
